No need to struggle on streets to win teachers’ demands – NTP
Union leaders with politicised agendas
National Teachers’ Power(NTP) National Organiser and Media Spokesperson A.M.U.Bandara said that the day is not far when teachers’ union leaders who politicised teachers will be chased away by saying “go home”.
“Why were the teachers brought near the Fort Railway Station. I wonder whether the teacher union leaders think the station master of the Fort railway station is the Education Minister,” he added.
He said that their trade unions fight for obtaining worker rights for teachers and added that they have been observing the misuse of teachers by certain trade unions for obtaining political gains. The National Teachers’ Power was formed by a group of teachers who were disillusioned with the existing teachers’ unions.
National Teachers’ Power (NTP) advocates for the professional rights of teachers. NTP stands to launch a professional battle away from street battles for winning their professional rights, including the rights faced by all teachers.None of the members of their union have taken duty leave for union activities, he said.
“Today, many teacher unions in the country have become completely politicised. The aim of these people is to gain political power. Just like the people took to the streets and said “Gota go home”, the teachers are now ready to say “go home” or “go to temple” to these teachers union representatives. Until then, we are telling the representatives of the so called teacher union to leave,” he added.
These teacher unions do not want to solve the problems of teachers. If the problems of the teachers are resolved, these teacher unions will fall into the position of the gypsy, who lost the cobra.
The Convenor of “National Guru Balaya” (NGB) said that from 1997 to 2020, no one had an honest desire to solve this teacher’s salary problem. These teacher unions have been making a political deal since then. It took so long to solve this problem. Now the teachers have finally realized that their problems will not be solved by the teachers’ unions who are wearing these traditional political deals. That is why, within a short period most of the teachers are moving away from these traditional teacher unions, which failed to achieve targets.
“Teachers ask us the question: why wait until a leader of a certain political party comes to power to solve our problems. The NGB stands for providing leadership to that group. We have recognised the unlimited professional and social power that teachers have. We don’t need to go to street fights anymore,” he added.
He noted that teachers should not suffer from tear gas. Teachers can stop the country for a day. The extent of the power of the teachers to teach the rulers to disrupt the work of the country.
“We are telling the 225 members in Parliament, if our problems are not solved, we will end your politics,” he noted.
Why do teachers go to street fights? We removed the teachers from street fighting completely. Teachers should not be holding up boards on roads.
Vice Chancellor of Sanasa University Ven.Prof. Wijithapure Wimalarathana Thera said teachers also ask for additional allowances. In this way, the public has been influenced to go on strikes. Both of these actions are wrong. You cannot expect a correct answer from two wrong actions. We have passed a difficult period and now we are slowly raising our head again. At such a time these strikes are not feasible.
Ravindra Manatunga, a teacher from Galle Vidyaloka Vidyalaya said:We live in the 21st century.We should work to solve our problems.Teachers and principals should not follow outdated methods to overcome disparities and win our demands. We need to solve our problems professionally.
There is no use in struggling on the streets. It will only damage our reputation. Society’s attitude towards teachers and the respect they show should not change.
Asoka Herath – A father of a student from Kandy said teachers and principals are protesting while demanding allowances.”I think this is a politically instigated protest. In fact, our country has just started to get out of the acute economic crisis. In order to make that journey successful, we need to be patient for some more time. In the current economic condition of the country, no one can give additional allowances and payments” he said.
Executive member of the Education Professionals’ Union of the Central Province Ven.Doragamuwe Saddhatissa Thera said that there is no need to struggle on the highway to win the teachers’ demands.
There is no need to struggle on the roads even though the arrears of teachers and principals should be paid immediately. It has been said that granting our demands is fair. It should be given.
“We should work together to win demands. We should not do it for politics.Winning demands and engaging in politics are two things. These two should not be confused,” he said.
It goes without saying that teachers and principals should act in such a way that their reputation and honour will not be harmed when entering into professional struggles. Since ancient times, teachers who have always been honoured and respected by society like deities. Many people are watching with displeasure the union actions of the struggle of such a respected group to demand their allowances.
DHARMA SRI ABEYRATNE and JAYASIRI MUNASINGHE
